Tuscaloosa teens win national equestrian sportsmanship awards

Tuesday

Aug 27, 2013 at 8:30 PMAug 27, 2013 at 11:39 PM

Charlotte Anguiano and Katie Carnes, who'll turn 16 next week, to win U.S. Equestrian Foundation Betsy Fishback Sportsmanship Awards at the National United States Pony Finals in Lexington, Ky., this month. Standing out among riders from across the country, they were selected in a process that accounts for character, conduct, integrity and showmanship.

By Becky HopfSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

They are the best of friends, brought together by a shared passion for a sport that often pits them against one another. But before, after and, they say, even during competition, they support one another, entering the arena with a personal drive to win while hoping for the best for the other. It's perhaps that spirit that led two teenagers out of Tuscaloosa's Westminster Farm, 14-year-old Charlotte Anguiano and Katie Carnes, who'll turn 16 next week, to win U.S. Equestrian Foundation Betsy Fishback Sportsmanship Awards at the National United States Pony Finals in Lexington, Ky., this month. Standing out among riders from across the country, they were selected in a process that accounts for character, conduct, integrity and showmanship. That two winners came from the same barn is somewhat rare.“Both are deserving of the award,” said Ashley Morrison, Westminster Farm's owner and the girls' trainer. “Our kids know a lot of other kids, and they are always cheering them on, taking pictures of the other girls, telling them congratulations and wishing them good luck. They tend to be very supportive. I think that had a lot to do with them both winning.”In fact, when Anguiano received her award, she wasn't even there to compete. She says she just went to cheer on her friends who were, including Carnes.“It meant a lot,” Anguiano said. “Katie won hers the day before, and we were so happy for her. I was surprised when I won too because I was just there to support my friends and help out.”Carnes' award marked a bright spot in a challenging year. Last September she was a patient in Children's Hospital in Birmingham, battling a serious illness when her father, Benjamin Carnes, suffered a fatal heart attack. Over the next six months, she also lost her grandparents, Barbara and Aubrey Buchalter. It was her horse Wally, an 11-year-old German riding pony whose show name is Carnival, who helped lift her through the heartache. “I got Wally two weeks before my father died. He, and all my ponies and horses, and my relationship with the Lord, my mom, my boyfriend, they all made it better,” said Carnes, a sophomore at American Christian Academy. “I competed at Washington International Horse Show and Pennsylvania National right after my grandmother died in October. They're the most elite horse shows you can go to. They only take like the top 30 in the whole country, so there was no question that I was going to go. Doing that and just coming out here (to the barn) is my therapy, I guess you would say.”Anguiano, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Ariel Anguiano, moved to the area with her family three years ago and began training at Westminster. She and Carnes compete in the hunter jumper large pony division. Both grew up around horses, getting their first ponies by the time they were 5. Carnes said her mom, Kathie Carnes, grew up here showing Tennessee Walking Horses. Katie Carnes started entering shows when she was about 9. Anguiano started when she moved here.“You'd think we'd be really competitive,” said Anguiano, a ninth-grader at Tuscaloosa Academy who competes on Fendi, a Welsh thoroughbred cross whose show name is Farnley Designer, and a quarter horse named Charming Charlie. “We're always proud of each other. If one does better than the other, we're never mad. I want to do my best, and I want her to do her best.”Said Carnes, “We feel like we've known each other forever, but it's only been three years. Within the last year, after my dad died, we've become really close. We compete against each other, but it doesn't affect us. I think it helps us, really, because we support each other and push each other to do our best. This award was really special. I feel like I can face anything after this year.”